Steven Spielberg Involved in ‘Transformers’ Enough to Reportedly Order Megan Fox’s Firing by: Will Leitch Transformers: Dark of the Moon in Theaters June 28

You know, Dreamworks/Paramount/whatever once sold “Transformers” the same way they’re selling “Super 8” now: as a Steven Spielberg joint with some other, lesser guy directing. Spielberg’s name is added to bring heft, gravitas and (of course) box office to enterprises that aren’t yet proven; note that Spielberg’s name isn’t so prominent in the “Transformers” trailers anymore. The franchise no longer requires him.

That doesn’t mean he’s not still involved, though, and, according to Michael Bay (who directed “Transformers” movies), the reason Megan Fox was fired from “Transformers 2” was not her big mouth (more on that later), but in fact Spielberg himself.

According to a new Michael Bay oral history in GQ, Bay says Fox was booted by the direct order of Sir Spielbergo (who helped produce the movie).

“She was in a different world, on her BlackBerry. You gotta stay focused. And you know, the Hitler thing. Steven [Spielberg] said, ‘Fire her right now.'”

“The Hitler thing” was Fox saying Bay ran his movie sets “like Hitler,” which probably didn’t sit well with Spielberg. It’s a shame: She should have just run with her Napoleon comparison, which is far more apt, save for the height issue. Frankly, we’re a little disappointed not only that Spielberg actually does something with the “Transformers” films other than cash a check, but that he even knows who Megan Fox is. (For the record, Spielberg’s reps said he’s traveling with his family and therefore unavailable for comment. Good for him.)

As for how Bay felt about Fox’s comments, he said:

“I wasn’t hurt, because I know that’s just Megan. Megan loves to get a response. And she does it in kind of the wrong way. I’m sorry, Megan. I’m sorry I made you work twelve hours. I’m sorry that I’m making you show up on time. Movies are not always warm and fuzzy”